Method, system and apparatus for dimensioning items

ABSTRACT

A method of generating dimensioning assist information for an item includes: obtaining data associated with a physical size of a graphical dimensioning aid associated with the item; generating dimensioning assist information by encoding the data into a machine-readable data object carried by the item. A method of dimensioning an item includes, at a dimensioning system: capturing an image of the item and the graphical dimensioning aid carried by the item; detecting an edge of the item within the captured image; determining a measurement of the edge; detecting the graphical dimensioning aid within the captured image; determining a measurement of the graphical dimensioning aid; decoding a physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid from a machine-readable data object carried by the item; and dimensioning the edge based on the measurement of the edge, the measurement of the graphical dimensioning aid, and the physical size.

BACKGROUND

The transportation and storage of items such as packages may requireknowledge of the dimensions of a package. Such information may beemployed to optimize the use of available space in a container (e.g. atrailer), to determine a shipping or storage cost for the package, orthe like. Package dimensions, however, may not be known in advance, andworkers may therefore be required to obtain package dimensions bymanually measuring the packages. Taking manual measurements can betime-consuming and error-prone. Attempts to determine package dimensionsfrom image data may require that the position and orientation of theimage sensor relative to the package be known. Such positional data maynot be available, particularly when mobile devices are used fordimensioning, when packages are in motion and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separateviews, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated inand form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrateembodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explainvarious principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a system for processing items.

FIG. 1A is a schematic of another system for processing items.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams of certain internal hardwarecomponents of the printer of FIG. 1 and the dimensioning system of FIG.1, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for generating dimensioning media.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate example barcodes generated during the performanceof the method of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for iteratively determining a physicalsize of a graphical dimensioning aid for use in the method of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate example barcodes generated during the performanceof the method of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate additional examples of graphical dimensioningaids and corresponding machine-readable representations of physicalsizes of the graphical dimensioning aids.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for dimensioning an item.

FIG. 9 illustrates an image captured via performance of the method ofFIG. 8.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The apparatus and method components have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples disclosed herein are directed to a method of generatingdimensioning assist information for an item, the method comprising:obtaining data associated with a physical size of a graphicaldimensioning aid associated with the item; generating dimensioningassist information by encoding the data into a machine-readable dataobject carried by the item.

Additional examples disclosed herein are directed to a method ofdimensioning an item, comprising: at a dimensioning system, capturing animage of the item and a graphical dimensioning aid carried by the item;detecting an edge of the item within the captured image; determining ameasurement of the edge; detecting the graphical dimensioning aid withinthe captured image; determining a measurement of the graphicaldimensioning aid; decoding a physical size of the graphical dimensioningaid from a machine-readable data object carried by the item;dimensioning the edge based on the measurement of the edge, themeasurement of the graphical dimensioning aid, and the physical size.

Further examples disclosed herein are directed to dimensioning mediacomprising: a printable substrate carrying a machine-readable dataobject; a graphical dimensioning aid printed on the substrate; wherein aphysical size of the graphical dimensioning aid is encoded in themachine-readable data object.

FIG. 1 depicts a system 100 for processing items, such as packages 104,of which three examples 104-1, 104-2 and 104-3 are shown (referred tocollectively as the packages 104, and generically as a package 104). Thepackages 104 may be, for example, handled by one or more transport andlogistics systems for transport between destinations. Transportation ofthe packages 104 may include placement of the packages 104 within one ormore containers for shipment, such as a shipping container, the trailerof a transport truck, the freight compartment of a delivery vehicle, orthe like. The packages 104 are shown as rectangular prisms of varyingshapes, but it is contemplated that the packages 104 can also have awide variety of other shapes, e.g. cylinders, triangular prisms,truncated pyramids, suitcases, bags, shrink-wrapped bulk packages,pails, barrels, and other shapes, or could comprise flexible packaging.

Handling and transportation of the packages 104 may require that thedimensions of the packages 104 be determined and recorded. For example,the dimensions of each package 104 may be determined according to asuitable standard, such as the GDSN Package Measurement Rules Standard,the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Thedimensions of each package 104 may include dimensions defining both thesize (e.g. height, width and depth), as well as the weight of thepackages 104. In the discussion below, however, references to a packagedimension of a package 104 refer to a dimension defining a size of thepackage 104, rather than the weight of a package 104. Package dimensionsmay be employed for loading containers with packages 104, for example toefficiently utilize the space within a container. Package dimensions maybe employed for determining freight charges for transporting or storingpackages 104.

Certain packages 104 may be comprised of a manufactured item enclosed ina carton of known dimensions. Certain packages 104 may be comprised ofone or more selected items kitted in a carton of known dimensions. Suchpackages have package dimensions predetermined before the package isreceived at a transport and logistics system. However, the packagedimensions of other packages 104 may not be known prior to the handlingof such packages 104 to determine freight charges, to load a container,or to conduct other handling procedures. Further, predetermined packagedimensions, even if known to some entities, such as the manufacturer ofa box or packager of an item, may not be readily available to otherentities, such as an operator responsible for loading a container,determining an amount to charge for shipping the package 104, and thelike. Still further, certain packages 104 may not maintain predeterminedpackage dimensions once loaded (e.g. the walls of a package may deformsuch that the predetermined dimensions are no longer accurate, or anopen bin may be loaded above the top of the container).

FIG. 1A depicts a system for processing items, such as a package 104.The system of FIG. 1A enables the determination of dimensioning assistinformation for an item such as the package 104. The item 104 carries avisual design such as a logo, trademarked symbol, geometric shape, orother graphic or predetermined symbol 708 and a machine-readable dataobject (MRDO) such as an RFID device 106. The visual design may be usedas a source identifying symbol; it may comprise several graphicalelements such as text characters, spacing, and geometric shapes; it maybe marked in one or more colors. The graphic 708 may be marked directlyon a manufactured good, it may be marked on the carton or otherpackaging for the good, it may be marked on a label affixed to the item,or may be otherwise associated with the item. The MRDO, a data carriersuch as an RFID tag device 106, may be incorporated within amanufactured good, may be incorporated into the packaging, may beincorporated into a label affixed to the item, or may be otherwiseassociated with the item. In an embodiment, the RFID device 106 is aRFID inlay comprising a flexible substrate carrying an antenna, a RFIDchip comprising memory that may carry data, and adhesive allowing theinlay to be affixed to the packaging or incorporated into a smartlabelthat may be affixed to the packaging or a good. When interrogated by asignal from an RFID interrogator, the antenna receives the signal,providing sufficient power to both activate the RFID chip and tobackscatter a response signal to the RFID interrogator. Thus, the RFIDinterrogator and the RFID chip of the MRDO 106 may exchange data. TheRFID interrogator may write or encode data to the memory of the RFIDchip; the RFID interrogator may read data from the memory by decodingthe backscattered response. In an embodiment, the graphic 708 mayindicate the source of the item, the presence of an RFID tag, shippinginformation, or may be purely cosmetic. In an embodiment, the dataencoded in the MRDO 106 is a physical size 108 of the graphic 708, suchas 50 mm. Such a graphic 708 may be referred to as a graphicaldimensioning aid (GDA) because the graphic 708 is associated with anitem 104 that carries an MRDO 106 encoding a physical size 105 of thegraphic 708. The MRDO 106 and GDA 708 may be used by a dimensioningsystem 112 to dimension the package 104 as explained in detail below.Using an image capture system 222, the dimensioning system may captureone or more images from the field of view 116 of the package 104 and theGDA 708 which it may analyze to estimate the size of the packagerelative to the GDA.

The package 104 and the GDA 708 may appear large in an image capturednear the package, but the same package may appear small in an imagecaptured far from the package. Similarly, a lens arrangement of theimage capture system 222 may provide adjustable zoom causing a capturedimage of the package 104 and the GDA 708 to appear large at one lenssetting but to appear small at a second lens setting. In manyembodiments however, the relationship between the apparent size of thepackage 104 and the apparent size of the GDA 708 is nearly constant whenthe GDA 708 is positioned near a plane of the item 104, such as on theside of a package box. Using a data capture system 228 such as an RFIDreader, the dimensioning system may decode from the MRDO 106 thephysical size of the GDA 708. Because the relative size of the item 104to the GDA 708 may be determined from the captured image, and the truephysical size 105 of the GDA 708 may be determined from the captureddata, the true physical dimension 107 of the item may be determined byscaling the physical size 105 of the GDA by the relative size.

Various types of machine-readable data objects may be used to encode thephysical size 105 of the GDA in certain embodiments, including RFIDdevices and/or visible marks. A passive RFID tag or inlay such as a Gen2tag may encode the physical size of the GDA. A chipless RFID tag mayencode the physical size. A near field communication (NFC) tag,semi-passive RFID tag, or active RFID tag could encode the physicalsize. A barcode, such as a linear barcode, two dimensional barcode,stacked symbology, color barcode, matrix barcode, or combination barcodemay encode the physical size of the GDA. Text, colors, or symbols mayencode the physical size. In an embodiment, the text Pallet may encode a1 inch physical size of a GDA while the text Case may encode a 1 picaphysical size of a GDA. In an embodiment, the packaging indicator of aGTIN may encode a physical size of the GDA. In an embodiment, acompliance label format may encode a physical size of the GDA asexplained below.

In certain embodiments, various types of graphics may be used as theGraphical Dimensioning Aid 708 for which a physical size 105 is encodedinto the MRDO 106. The graphic may be created by the contrast between alabel of one color, such as black, and the color, such as white, of thepackaging to which it is affixed. Or a border color, such as red orblack, may be used on a label to aid in differentiating the border of alabel from the packaging in the captured image. The graphicaldimensioning aid may comprise a plurality of graphical elements, such asalphanumeric text glyphs, barcode combinations, various color regions,pictures, or geometric shapes. The GDA may comprise a physical feature,such as a box handle or the antenna of an RFID device.

In certain embodiments, a printer 108 may mark at least a portion of theGDA and/or the MRDO on an item or on dimensioning media associated withthe item. In an embodiment, marking the item or dimensioning media isdone using printer technology such as hot stamping, dot peening, lasermarking, chemical deposition, chemical etching, offset lithography,engraving, stencil duplicating, letterpress, screen printing,flexography, or gravure printing. These printer technologies generallyinvolve creating a pattern which is used to mark each of a plurality ofitems or dimensioning media with a graphic. In an embodiment, a printermarks a substrate with a printed antenna, and a chip and adhesive areadded to the substrate to create an RFID inlay device. In an embodiment,sometimes referred to as digital printing, a printer receives or createsa printable representation of a graphic that it may store or process asa bitmap. Digital printing generally involves marking the printablerepresentation defined by a bitmap to one or more items or dimensioningmedia. In an embodiment, a digital printer may create a bitmap, mark thebitmap to a single label, then create a second bitmap and mark thesecond bitmap to a second label. Thus, digital printing facilitatesprinting a high volume of unique dimensioning media at rapid speed.Various digital printing technologies are within the scope of thisinvention, including impact, thermal, continuous inkjet, drop-on demandinkjet, direct laser, solid ink, laser printing, liquid toner, and lasermarking.

In certain embodiments, dimensioning media may carry graphics ormachine-readable data objects associated with an item. In a preferredembodiment, dimensioning media is comprised of a printable substrate,such as paper, polyester, cardboard, plastic film or sheets, wovenfabrics and the like which may be coated with one or more adhesivesand/or coatings to facilitate printing, scratch resistance, durability,radio frequency performance, strength, chemical tolerance, and such. Inan embodiment, a printable substrate is coated with a thermochromic dye,layered with an adhesive and a silicone coated liner, die-cut intoindividual labels, then wound onto a core to create a roll of directthermal labels. In an embodiment, a printable substrate is layered withan adhesive and a silicone coated liner, die-cut into individual labels,then wound onto a core to create a roll of thermal transfer labels thatmay be printed with a thermal transfer printer using a thermal transferribbon. In certain embodiments, a label of one color may be affixed toan item or package of a contrasting different color creating a visiblegraphic that may be detected by a dimensioning system, or a border maybe printed on the label to create a contrast between the label and theitem. In an embodiment, a RFID inlay device is affixed to a directthermal or thermal transfer label to create a printable smartlabel. Inan embodiment, a RFID inlay device may be incorporated into media suchas a cardboard carton, a graphic printed to the media, and a physicalsize of the graphic encoded into the RFID device to generatedimensioning media.

In certain embodiments, a visual feature of the MRDO may be used as theGDA. An RFID device may encode the physical size, e.g. a length of anantenna of the RFID device; the image capture system 222 would capturethe appearance of the antenna while data capture system 228 wouldcapture the physical size of the antenna. A barcode may encode thephysical size, e.g. a height and/or width, of the barcode; the imagecapture system 222 would capture the appearance of the barcode whiledata capture system 228 would decode the physical size of the barcode.Text may encode the physical size of the text; the image capture system222 would capture an image of the text while data capture system 228would decode the physical size of the text, using a method such asoptical character recognition (OCR) or pattern recognition. In someembodiments, the data capture system 228 would use a captured image fromthe image capture system 222 to decode and capture the physical sizefrom the MRDO 106. In an embodiment, a compliance label formattedaccording to a compliance standard for pallet shipping may carry a GDAwith a first physical size defined by the compliance standard while acompliance label formatted according to a compliance standard for casepackaging may carry a GDA with a second defined physical size; the imagecapture system 222 would capture the appearance of the compliance label,the data capture system 228 would analyze the captured image to identifythe compliance format of the compliance label from a database ofpredefined formats to decode the physical size of the GDA. Thus, thedimensioning system 112 is able to capture, from an item, an image ofthe item and an associated GDA and a physical size of the GDA encoded ina machine-readable data object carried by the item.

Returning to FIG. 1, the system 100 enables the application ofdimensioning assist information to a package 104 for use in determiningthe package dimensions of the package 104 from an image (e.g. a capturedimage 900 of the package 104, discussed in greater detail in connectionwith FIG. 9). In an embodiment, the system 100 includes a printer 108configured to generate a dimensioning media, e.g. a label comprisingdimensioning assist information. The printer 108, in the presentexample, is a label printer, configured to generate graphics and otherindicia, which can include the dimensioning assist information, on labelmedia. For example, the printer 108 can be configured to store a supplyof label media (e.g. a roll supporting a web of liner carrying aplurality of labels, a stack of fan-fold labels, a supply of printablesmartlabels with RFID inlays, a roll of linerless labels and the like),and to control a print assembly to mark the labels with graphics and/orother indicia, such as text, barcodes, numerals, logos, photographs, andthe like.

Various mechanisms by which the above-mentioned mark is printed arecontemplated. For example, the print assembly of the printer 108 caninclude a thermal printhead having an array of heating elements eachcontrollable to heat an adjacent portion of a label coated with athermochromic dye or the like above a transition temperature, at whichthe label portion changes color (e.g. from light to dark). The printheadis therefore controlled to mark successive rows of dots on the label,corresponding to pixels in a raster bitmap employed to control theprinthead. The heating elements of the printhead are disposed at aspacing that defines the maximum resolution of the printer 108. Forexample, a printhead having an array of about eight heating elements permillimeter can print at a resolution of about 200 dots per inch (dpi)(specifically, 203 dpi). For such a printhead, a bitmap with a width oftwenty-four pixels would have a physical size of about 3 millimeterswhen printed.

As will be discussed below in greater detail, the printer 108 can beconfigured to apply dimensioning assist information to the package 104using mechanisms other than marking, or using combinations of such othermechanisms with marks or printed labels. For example, the printer 108can include a radio frequency identification (RFID) encoder configuredto encode data to an RFID device affixed to the package 104, or embeddedin the above-mentioned label media. Such an embodiment may be referredto as a printer-encoder. The above-mentioned supply of label media mayinclude a roll of labels containing RFID inlay devices, and the printer108 may be configured to both mark the labels and to encode data to theRFID inlays. The dimensioning assist information can therefore beembodied in one or both of marks applied to one or more labels, anexample 110 of which is illustrated in FIG. 1, and data encoded to anRFID device, such as an inlay of the label 110.

The dimensioning assist information mentioned above includes a graphicaldimensioning aid (GDA) and a machine-readable data object including atleast one physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid. The graphicaldimensioning aid may be printed on a label, a sticker, a carton, a tag,an RFID inlay or other printable substrate. Once the graphicaldimensioning aid is printed it has a physical size comprising a GDAheight and length, although the printed mark has a negligible thickness.A physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid (e.g. the GDA height,length, or a combination of the two) may be determined by the printer108 for encoding in the machine-readable data object as will bediscussed in greater detail below. The printed label is affixed to andbecomes part of the package 104. The package 104 is therefore markedwith the graphical dimensioning aid and encoded with data defining aphysical size of the graphic as it appears on the package 104.

The dimensioning assist information applied to a package 104 (that is,the graphical dimensioning aid and the machine-readable data object) areemployed by a dimensioning system 112, for example following thetransportation of the package 104-1 to another destination as shown inFIG. 1, to determine one of more physical dimensions of the package104-1. The dimensioning system 112 can be implemented as a plurality ofdevices, such as a plurality of cameras, lidar sensors, or the likecoupled to a central controller. In other examples, the dimensioningsystem 112 is a single integrated unit, such as a mobile computerincluding one or more cameras. The dimension system 112 or componentsthereof may be carried by a person, moved on a cart or robot, mountedwithin a venue near a conveyor or dock, or similarly positioned inproximity to an item to be dimensioned.

The dimensioning system 112 is configured to capture an image 900 of thepackage 104-1 (e.g. within a field of view 116 shown in FIG. 1), inwhich the graphical dimensioning aid can be detected, and also to decodethe physical size encoded in the above-mentioned machine-readable dataobject. With the graphic and the physical size (which defines at leastone printed size of the graphic), the dimensioning system 112 is enabledto determine package dimensions of the package 104-1. As will beapparent in the discussion below, comparing the relative size of an edgeof the package to the graphical dimensioning aid, as depicted in thecaptured image, combined with the decoded physical size of the graphicaldimensioning aid, can yield the physical dimension of the edge.Similarly, comparing the relative size of a second edge of the packageto either the first edge or the GDA can yield the physical dimension ofthe second edge.

Turning to FIGS. 2A and 2B, before discussing the functionalityimplemented by the printer 108 and the dimensioning system 112, certaininternal components of the printer 108 and the dimensioning system 112are illustrated.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the printer 108 includes a central processing unit(CPU), also referred to as a processor 200, interconnected with anon-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as a memory 204.The memory 204 includes a suitable combination of volatile memory (e.g.Random Access Memory (“RAM”)) and non-volatile memory (e.g. read onlymemory (“ROM”), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory(“EEPROM”), flash memory). In general, the processor 200 and the memory204 each comprise one or more integrated circuits.

The printer 108 may also include at least one input device 208interconnected with the processor 200. As will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the input device 208 is configured to receive inputand provide data representative of the received input to the processor200. The input device 208 includes any one of, or a suitable combinationof, a touch screen, a keypad, a button, a switch, a membrane switch, asensor, a microphone, and the like. In an embodiment, the input device208 is a sensor to detect a package moving along a conveyor approachinga printer, a label applicator, or a printer-applicator. The printer 108may include at least one output device 212 interconnected with theprocessor 200. The output device 212, in the present example, includes adisplay (e.g. a flat-panel display aligned with the above-mentionedkeypad). The output device 212 can also include, in addition to orinstead of the above-mentioned display, any one of, or a suitablecombination of, a speaker, a notification LED, and the like.

The printer 108 also includes a communications interface 216interconnected with the processor 200. The communications interface 216includes suitable hardware (e.g. transmitters, receivers, connectors,network interface controllers and the like) allowing the printer 108 tocommunicate with other computing devices, for example via a cable, aprint server, a radio (e.g. a WiFi card, Bluetooth radio or NFC radio),or a network (e.g. a local-area network (LAN), such as a wireless LAN, awide-area network such as the Internet, or a combination thereof). Thespecific components of the communications interface 216 are selectedbased on the type of network or other links that the printer 108 isrequired to communicate over.

The printer 108 also includes components configured for generatingdimensioning media. The printer 108 may include a media handler assembly220, which may include a storage compartment, roll or the like holdingthe above-mentioned supply of label media. The media handler 220 canalso include one or more motors, gear trains, belts, rollers, guidestructures, sensors and the like for feeding label media from the supplyto one or more printing and/or encoding components along a media feedpath. In the present example, the printing and/or encoding componentsinclude a printhead 224 and an RFID encoder 228. The printhead 224 maybe a thermal printhead including, for example, the above-mentioned rowof heating elements that are selectively enabled (i.e. heated) ordisabled as the label media traverses the printhead 224, to apply asequence of rows of pixels from a bitmap rendered by the processor 200for printing to the label media. The RFID encoder 228 includes asuitable combination of antennas or couplers and associated controlhardware for reading data from, and writing data to, RFID devices suchas RFID inlays embedded in the above-mentioned label media. The RFIDencoder 228 is configured to receive data for encoding to the RFIDdevice from the processor 200, and to write the data to an RFID deviceupon arrival of the RFID device adjacent to the RFID encoder 228 (e.g.via movement of the label media by the media handler 220). In otherembodiments, the RFID encoder 228 can be omitted.

The memory 204 of the printer 108 stores one or more applications, eachincluding a plurality of computer readable instructions executable bythe processor 200. The execution of the above-mentioned instructions bythe processor 200 causes the printer 108 to implement certainfunctionality, as discussed herein. The applications are therefore saidto be configured to perform the functionality in the discussion below.In the present example, the memory 204 of the printer 108 stores mediageneration application 232, also referred to herein as the application232. The printer 108 is configured, via execution of the application 232by the processor 200, to generate dimensioning media bearing thegraphical dimensioning aid and the machine-readable data objectincluding the physical size as mentioned earlier, for application to apackage 104. In some embodiments, the application may also renderadditional other indicia, such as text, barcodes, numerals, logos,photographs, and the like or generate additional instructions for theRFID Encoder 228.

Data, such as an item identifier or physical size for a GDA, may beencoded for dimensioning media by the application 232 in a variety ofways. For instance, characters representing data may be rendered as textglyphs for printing, saved in memory of an RFID device, used as fielddata in an algorithm for rendering a barcode, mapped to one of aplurality of colors or geometric symbols. In some embodiments, firstdata may be combined with second data before encoding or duringencoding, or first data may be encoded before second data is encoded.Data may be encrypted before encoding, or may be encrypted as a resultof being combined with second data or as a result of the encodingprocess itself. Combinations of such encoding may also be used in someembodiments. In some examples, the processor 200, as configured by theexecution of the application 232, is implemented as one or morespecifically-configured hardware elements, such as field-programmablegate arrays (FPGAs) and/or application-specific integrated circuits(ASICs). In some examples, the processor 200 is implemented as aprocessor within a housing of a printer combined with a processoroutside the housing of the printer communicating via the communicationsinterface 216.

Turning to FIG. 2B, the dimensioning system 112 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU), also referred to as a dimensioning processor 250,interconnected with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium,such as a memory 254. The memory 254 includes a suitable combination ofvolatile memory (e.g. Random Access Memory (“RAM”)) and non-volatilememory (e.g. read only memory (“ROM”), Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read Only Memory (“EEPROM”), flash memory). In general, thedimensioning processor 250 and the memory 254 each comprise one or moreintegrated circuits.

The dimensioning system 112 also includes at least one input device 258interconnected with the dimensioning processor 250. As will be apparentto those skilled in the art, the input device 258 is configured toreceive input and provide data representative of the received input tothe dimensioning processor 250. The input device 258 includes any oneof, or a suitable combination of, a touch screen, a keypad, a triggerbutton, a sensor, a microphone, and the like. In an embodiment, theinput device is a sensor to detect a package within a field of view ofthe image capture system 222. In an embodiment, the input device is asensor to detect a package within a field of view of the data capturesystem 228. The dimensioning system 112 also includes at least oneoutput device 262 interconnected with the dimensioning processor 250.The output device 262, in the present example, includes a display (e.g.a flat-panel display integrated with the above-mentioned touch screen).The output device 262 can also include, in addition to or instead of theabove-mentioned display, any one of, or a suitable combination of, aspeaker, a notification LED, and the like.

The dimensioning system 112 also includes a communications interface 266interconnected with the dimensioning processor 250. The communicationsinterface 266 includes suitable hardware (e.g. transmitters, receivers,network interface controllers and the like) allowing the dimensioningsystem 112 to communicate with other computing devices, for example viaa network (e.g. a local-area network (LAN), such as a wireless LAN, awide-area network such as the Internet, or a combination thereof). Thespecific components of the communications interface 266 are selectedbased on the type of network or other links that the dimensioning device112 is required to communicate over.

The dimensioning system 112 further includes one or more componentsconfigured to collect data from a package 104 (and specifically from thedimensioning media previously applied to the package 104) for use by thedimensioning system 112 in determining package dimensions of the package104. In the present example, the above-mentioned components include animage capture system 222 (e.g. a camera or imaging array) configured tocapture an image of the field of view 116 shown in FIG. 1. The capturedimage can be stored in the memory 254 as a color (e.g. RGB, CMYK,black/white) image or a grayscale image. The dimensioning system 112and/or the image capture system 222 may include an illumination systemconfigured to illuminate at least a portion of the field of view 116 toimprove the quality of the captured image. For instance, theillumination system may use infrared light, ultraviolet light, and/orcolored light of various durations or intensity to facilitate capturingthe image. In the present example, the dimensioning system 112 alsoincludes a machine-readable data capture system 228 configured tocapture physical size data from a machine-readable data objectassociated with the item, such as a RFID reader configured to retrievedata from a RFID inlay in dimensioning media applied to the package 104.The RFID reader 228 thus includes a suitable combination of antennas andassociated control hardware for emitting an interrogation signal anddetecting a backscattered signal from the RFID device containing dataencoded in the RFID device. In some embodiments, the dimensioning system112 can also include an alternate machine-readable data capture modulesuch as a barcode scanner including an emitter of a beam of laser lightand a sensor configured to detect reflected portions of the beamindicative of a barcode on the package 104. In the present example,barcode detection and decoding is instead performed employing imagescaptured with the image capture system 222; and the alternate datacapture module is therefore omitted. In other embodiments thedimensioning system 112 can use optical character recognition (OCR) todecode data from the dimensioning media and may use either imagescaptured by the image capture system 222 or an alternate data capturemodule to capture said data.

The memory 254 of the dimensioning system 112 stores a plurality ofapplications, each including a plurality of computer readableinstructions executable by the dimensioning processor 250. The executionof the above-mentioned instructions by the dimensioning processor 250causes the dimensioning system 112 to implement certain functionality,as discussed herein. The applications are therefore said to beconfigured to perform the functionality in the discussion below. In thepresent example, the memory 254 of the dimensioning system 112 storesdimensioning application 268, also referred to herein as the application268. The dimensioning device 112 is configured, via execution of theapplication 268 by the dimensioning processor 250, to capture an imagedepicting the package 104 (and therefore the graphical dimensioning aidpreviously applied to the package 104) and to retrieve the physical sizefrom the machine-readable data object. The dimensioning system 112 isthen configured to determine one or more physical package dimensions ofthe package 104 from the image and the physical size.

In other examples, the dimensioning processor 250, as configured by theexecution of the application 268, is implemented as one or morespecifically-configured hardware elements, such as field-programmablegate arrays (FPGAs) and/or application-specific integrated circuits(ASICs). In some examples, the dimensioning processor 250 is implementedas a processor within a housing of a dimensioning system combined with aprocessor outside the housing of the dimensioning system communicatingvia the communications interface 266.

The printer 108 and the dimensioning system 112 can be configured toperform tasks other than those noted above (e.g. the generation ofdimensioning media for application to the packages 104 and thedimensioning of the packages 104 based on the dimensioning media). Forexample, the printer 108 and the device 112 can generate and/or collectother data related to identifying, transporting and handling of thepackages 104, and receive and/or transmit such data to or from othercomputing devices. Such functionality is not discussed in detail below,however.

The functionality of the printer 108, as implemented via execution ofthe application 232 by the processor 200, will now be described ingreater detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300of generating dimensioning media for application to a package 104. Themethod 300 will be described in conjunction with its performance in thesystem 100, and specifically by the printer 108.

At block 305, the printer 108 is configured to determine a printresolution of the printhead 224. In the present example, in which theprinthead 224 is a thermal printhead including a linear array of 203controllable heating elements per inch, the print resolution may beexpressed as 203 dots per inch (dpi). The print resolution determinesthe physical, or printed, size of each pixel of a bitmap printed to themedia by the printhead 224. The print resolution may be stored as apreconfigured value in the memory 204, such as a setting in anapplication 232, or in a register or other component of the printhead224 itself. In an embodiment, the printer may determine a productidentifier of the printhead, such as a part number or printhead type,and query a local or remote database to determine the print resolution.

At block 310, the printer 108 is configured to obtain media data for usein generating dimensioning media. The media data can include, forexample, a media type loaded into the media handler 220, a size of mediato be printed, a stock keeping unit or part number for the media, amedia description, label sensing information such as gap sensing orblack bar sensing, preprint information for the media or for a GDApreprinted on the media prior to generating the dimensioning media, andthe like. The media handler 220 may be configured to handle only asingle type of media (e.g. labels having a width of 4 inches and aheight of 2 inches), in which case the media type can be preconfigured(e.g. in the memory 204 or the printhead 224). In some examples,however, the media handler 220 can accommodate more than one type ofmedia (e.g. labels of different sizes, materials, or construction). Theprinter 108, in such embodiments, can be configured to detect thecurrently loaded media at block 310. The media data obtained at block310 can also indicate whether the media includes elements such asembedded RFID inlays, preprinted graphics, magnetic stripes, printalignment marks, certain materials, shapes, sizes, or constructions.Media data could be obtained from an input device 208, or via thecommunications interface 216. In an embodiment, media data could beobtained from an RFID device associated with the media via the RFIDencoder 228. In an embodiment, media data could be obtained via thecommunications interface 216 from received printing instructions, suchas Zebra Programming Language, XML, or a printer control language (PCL).In an embodiment, the printer could obtain media data from the mediahandler 220 as a result of autocalibration comprising sensing a size ofmedia to be printed. In an embodiment, the printer could obtain mediadata from a sensor associated with the printhead 224. In someembodiments, a particular type of media is assumed with regard toprinting operations so that obtaining media data by the printer isunnecessary and step 310 may be omitted.

At block 313, the printer is configured to obtain format data definingformatting characteristics of the dimensioning media to be generated.The format data specifies a layout for the dimensioning media, and mayinclude parameters setting the type of indicia (e.g. barcodes, graphics,lines, text) or other elements (e.g. RFID devices, magnetic stripes) tobe generated, and the position of each element or indicium (when morethan one indicium are required by the format) on the dimensioning media.In certain embodiments format data may specify a wide range of elementor indicium characteristics such as barcode or symbology type, anorientation of the barcode, a width in dots of a narrow bar, a barcodeprint ratio (the relative width of a wide bar to a narrow bar in theprinted representation), a barcode height in dots, a magnificationfactor, the presence and relative position of a text interpretation linewith a barcode, the use of a check digit, a character set or mode, asecurity level, an error correction level, a menu symbol indicator, anapplication identifier, a symbol count or total, a matrix width, amatrix height, a cell width, a cell height, a cell character capacity, aguard bar dimension, a finder pattern, a message priority, start or stopcharacters, row or column instructions for two-dimensional barcodes, anumber of colors, specified inks, halftone patterns, or a palette ofcolors for a color barcode, and the like.

The format data may also include predetermined information forapplication to the dimensioning media, such as a graphic, borderdefinitions, sequences of numbers, pre-defined data such as a returnaddress or shipper ID, and the like. For example, the format dataassociated with generating dimensioning media for an item may bedetermined according to an appropriate printer control language, such asthe ZPL II Programming Guide, the contents of which is incorporatedherein by reference. The format data, in further examples, can alsospecify one or more indicia or other elements of the dimensioning mediato be employed as graphical dimensioning aid(s) and machine-readabledata object(s) encoding physical size of the graphical dimensioningaid(s). In some embodiments, the format data may specify a preprintedindicia or element to be employed as a GDA. In some embodiments, formatdata may be stored in memory 204 of the printer or received via thecommunication interface 216.

At block 315, the printer 108 is configured to receive print datadefining information to be applied to the media identified at block 310,according to the format data obtained at block 313. The print data cantherefore include text strings such as product stock keeping unit (SKU)identifiers, product names or codes, serial numbers, brand identifiers,model numbers, compliance data, price information, transactionidentifiers, transaction descriptive information, address of originand/or destination, contact names and numbers, time, date, and the like.The print data 315 can also include data defining graphics (e.g. logos,geometric shapes, pictures of products or the like). In someembodiments, print data may be received via the communication interface216, from the input device 208, or from an RFID encoder 228.

In some embodiments, the format data and the print data obtained atblocks 313 and 315 are received at the printer 108 in a command togenerate dimensioning media. The command can be received via the inputdevice 208, from another computing device (not shown) via thecommunications interface 266 or the like. The command includes at leasta command to generate dimensioning media (e.g. one or more labels)bearing the graphical dimensioning aid and encoding the physical size ofthe graphical dimensioning aid in a machine-readable data object. Insome embodiments, the format data and the print data need not bereceived in a single command. In further embodiments, the performance ofblocks 313 and 315 need not follow the performance of blocks 305 and310. That is, the printer 108 can obtain (e.g. via receipt of one ormore commands from another computing device, or via retrieval of theformat and print data from the memory 204) the format data and printdata before determining the print resolution at block 305 and/orobtaining the media data at block 310. More generally, the order inwhich the print resolution is determined at block 305, the media data isobtained at block 310, the format data is obtained at block 313, and theprint data is obtained at block 315, need not be as shown in FIG. 3. Inother words, blocks 305-315 can be re-arranged, or performedsimultaneously rather than sequentially as shown in FIG. 3.

In the present example performance of method 300, the print resolutionis determined at block 305 as being 203 dpi as noted above. Further, inthe present example, the media handler 220 contains a roll of labels,each label having a height (i.e. a size parallel to the direction oftravel of the labels past the printhead 224, and perpendicular to thearray of heating elements of the printhead 224) of 0.6 inches and awidth (i.e. a size parallel to the array of heating elements of theprinthead 224) of two inches. At block 310 the printer 108 is thereforeconfigured to obtain the above-noted label sizes.

Further, in the present example performance of method 300, the printer108 performs blocks 313 and 315 via the receipt of a command includingan identifier corresponding to the package 104-1, in the form of thetext string “APPLES”. As will be apparent, a wide variety of otheridentifiers may also be employed. The command also includes a labelformat specification (i.e. format data obtained at block 313),indicating that the dimensioning media to be generated includes a singlelabel containing a barcode positioned 50 dots from the left edge of thelabel and encoding both the above identifier and a physical size of thebarcode itself. That is, the barcode is employed as the graphicaldimensioning aid, and the barcode is also employed as themachine-readable data object encoding the physical size of that barcode.In such an embodiment, the dimensioning media or other item is markedwith a MRDO comprising data encoding the physical size of that MRDO. Inthe present example, a Code 39 barcode will be employed for the purposeof illustration, but it will be understood that a wide variety ofbarcodes, including both one-dimensional (e.g. Code 39, Code128, UPC,Postal Code and the like) two-dimensional (e.g. QRCode, DataMatrix,PDF417 and the like) color codes (Ultracode, HCCB and the like) orcombinations thereof can also be employed.

At block 317, the printer 108 is configured to determine or otherwiseobtain, based on the data obtained at blocks 305-315, boundaryparameters for one or more of the label as whole, the graphicaldimensioning aid, and the machine-readable data object encoding thephysical size. In general, the boundary parameters define a set ofacceptable values for one or more indicia of the dimensioning media.

The printer 108 can also be configured, at block 317, to set one or moreconfiguration parameters for one or more barcodes. In the presentexample, in which the dimensioning media to be generated includes asingle label bearing a barcode that encodes both the identifier “APPLES”and a physical size of the barcode itself, the printer 108 can beconfigured to select, at block 317, one or more parameters for thegeneration of the barcode. Such parameters vary depending on thecharacteristics of the barcode. For example, in the case of the Code 39barcode to be generated in this example performance of the method 300,the configuration parameters can include a barcode module width (i.e.the width of the narrowest bar of the barcode), for example in dots,thousandths of an inch, or the like. The parameters can also include aratio of the width of a wide bar to the width of a narrow bar of thebarcode. Other configuration parameters will also occur to those skilledin the art (e.g. the width of inter-character spaces in the barcode,typically expressed in dots, and the height of the barcode, alsotypically expressed in dots). In some examples, the configurationparameters can be contained in the command containing the format dataand print data received at blocks 313 and 315 and stored in the memory204 following receipt, and therefore obtaining the parameters at block317 includes retrieving the parameters from the memory 204. In thecurrent example, format data may specify that the barcode is preferablya Code 39 symbology printed in a normal orientation 50 dots from theleft edge of the label with a Mod-43 check digit 80 dots height with aprint interpretation line with a print ratio of 3.0:1. Boundaryparameters for the barcode may define a maximum printed length for thebarcode indicia of 1.67 inches so it does not print past the right edgeof the label and a minimum print ratio of 2.0:1 to maintainscannability. The initial configuration parameter for print ratio wouldthus be 3.0:1.

At block 320, the printer 108 is configured to determine a physical sizeof the graphical dimensioning aid, based on the print resolution fromblock 305, the media data from block 310, the format data from block 313and/or the print data from block 315. In the present example performanceof the method 300, it is assumed that the graphical dimensioning aid isa barcode encoding the package identifier (e.g. “APPLES”), and that themachine-readable data object encoding the physical size of the barcode'sheight is the barcode itself. The barcode therefore encodes both theidentifier “APPLES” and its own height. The identifier and the physicalsize can be distinguished within the encoded data by various mechanisms.For example, one or more application identifiers can be employed toindicate the nature of the values encoded in the barcode. In the presentexample, the application identifier “$/” will be employed to separatethe package identifier from the physical size. A wide variety of otherapplication identifiers may also be employed, however, includingidentifiers with fewer than two characters or with more than twocharacters, identifiers comprised of digits or alpha numerics, andidentifiers enclosed within brackets or other predefined characters.

The printer 108 can be configured to perform block 320 by rendering thebarcode (i.e. generating a bitmap comprising the barcode) according tothe configuration parameters from block 317, and determining a number ofpixels that, together with the print resolution, define the height ofthe barcode. The above-mentioned rendering process is described ingreater detail below in connection with block 335. Turning to FIG. 4A,an initial barcode 400 is illustrated, encoding the string “APPLES”. Aswill be understood by those skilled in the art, the barcode 400 encodesthe string “APPLES” between a pair of quiet zones 401 a and 401 b, inwhich no bars, text, graphics or the like appear. The image capturesystem 222, or any other suitable barcode capture mechanism, isconfigured to identify the beginning and end of the encoded data of thebarcode 400 by the quiet zones 401. The printed height “H” of thebarcode 400 is determined based on the number of pixels defining theheight of the barcode and on the print resolution. For instance, theconfiguration parameters selected at block 315 may specify a height of80 dots for each bar of the barcode 400. The bitmap depicting thebarcode 400 therefore has a height of 80 pixels. At a print resolutionof 203 dpi, the physical size of the 80-pixel height of the barcode 400is about 0.394 inches, or 394 thousandths of an inch (mils).

In other examples, the printer 108 is configured to perform block 320without rendering the bitmap. In the case of a Code 39 barcode, forexample, the physical size (including the height) of the barcode can bedetermined algorithmically, without rendering bitmap data. As is evidentfrom the discussion above, when the height in dots of the barcode 400 isspecified in advance, the printed height can be determined withoutrendering by dividing the height in dots by the print resolution in dotsper inch.

At block 325, the printer 108 is configured to determine whether theabove-mentioned boundary parameters are satisfied. In the presentexample, a boundary parameter specifies a maximum length for the barcode400. This length must be carefully defined for printing, as well as foreffective use as both a graphical dimensioning aid and as amachine-readable data object. The barcode length of a linear barcode maydescribe a first quiet zone followed by a series of wide and narrowspaced bars followed by a second quiet zone. In the present example, aseries of black wide and narrow bars separated by white spaces ofvarious widths define the barcode symbol which encodes data such as astart character, item data, check digit, packaging information, a stopcharacter, and such. The barcode also includes quiet zones on each endof the barcode that are necessary for reliable decoding by a scanner orsimilar barcode decoding system. In the present example, both thebarcode symbol and the quiet zones are needed for reliable operation asa machine-readable data object. Printing this barcode on a white directthermal label would entail heating printhead elements to imagethermochromic dyes coated on the label to print the black bars, and notheating printhead elements associated with the spaces and quiet zones inorder to leave those areas white. A dimensioning system capturing animage of the barcode could differentiate the contrast change between theoutermost bars of the barcode symbol and the adjacent quiet zones, butmay be unable to differentiate a contrast change between the outermostregion of the quiet zones and the adjacent unprinted white directthermal label. In the present example, the length of the barcode symbolsans the quiet zones would be an appropriate physical size of thegraphical dimensioning aid. In the current example, each bar has aheight which is the barcode height; this would also be an appropriatephysical size of the GDA. In an embodiment where this barcode is printedon a black thermal transfer label using a white thermal transfer ribbon,printhead elements associated with the spaces and quiet zones would beheated to transfer white ink from the ribbon to the label whileprinthead elements associated with the black bars would not be heated toleave those areas black. In such an embodiment, the dimensioning systemmay be able to differentiate a contrast change between the outermostregion of the quiet zones and the adjacent unprinted black thermaltransfer label, so either the entire barcode length or just the lengthof the barcode symbol would be an appropriate physical size of thegraphical dimensioning aid, as would be the barcode height. In thepresent example, the maximum barcode symbol length, given that thebarcode 400 is to be printed on a white two-inch wide label, may be setto the width of the label (e.g. two inches) subtracted by apredetermined quiet zone width. The quiet zone width may be equivalentto a multiple (e.g. ten times) of the barcode module width noted above.For example, a barcode module width of two dots obtained at block 317yields a quiet zone on either side of the barcode 400 with a width of 20dots (i.e. 0.0985 inches at a print resolution of 203 dpi). Thus, theboundary parameter for the barcode symbol length of the barcode 400 isabout 1.8 inches. There is no requirement that the dimension subject tothe boundary parameter when printing be the same dimension used todetermine the physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid which isencoded into the MRDO. In practice, it is preferred that the physicalsize encoded by the printer correspond with the contrasted region of theGDA measured by the dimensioning system; this could be accomplished bystandard, fiat, agreement between two parties, by utilizing definedapplication identifier codes, or the such.

The evaluation at block 325 can be performed by rendering a barcodeincluding both the package identifier and the physical size determinedat block 320. In other examples, as noted above, the evaluation at block325 is made algorithmically, prior to rendering the bitmap defining thebarcode. Turning to FIG. 4B, an updated barcode 404 is illustrated,encoding both the string “APPLES” and the height 394 (mils), separatedby the application identifier “$/”. At block 325 the printer 108 isconfigured to determine the printed length L−1 of the barcode 404, e.g.by identifying a number of pixels that define the barcode symbol lengthand dividing that number by the print resolution. Alternatively, asdiscussed above, the length of the barcode can be determinedalgorithmically based on the number of encoded characters and theconfiguration parameters from block 315. The barcode symbol length ofthe barcode 404 in the present example is about 2037 mils (assuming abarcode module width of two dots, a wide-to-narrow ratio of 3, andinter-character spacing of two dots). The determination at block 325 istherefore negative in the present example, as the length of 2037 milsexceeds the above-mentioned boundary parameter of 1.8 inches (1800mils).

Returning to FIG. 3, following a negative determination at block 325,the printer 108 proceeds to block 330 to update one or moreconfiguration parameters (which may also be referred to as variables)for the machine-readable representation (in this example, the barcode404). In particular, to reduce the length of the barcode 404, one ormore of the barcode module width, inter-character spacing, andwide-to-narrow ratios can be decreased. In the present exampleperformance of the method 300, the wide-to-narrow ratio is reduced from3.0:1 to 2.0:1, and block 325 is repeated. In some embodiments, theprinter 108 may return to block 320 rather than block 325. For example,if one of the boundary parameters specifies a height for the barcode,and at block 325 it is determined that the resulting barcode exceeds theboundary height, the height may be adjusted at block 330, whichnecessitates repetition of block 320 to obtain the updated printedheight for encoding into the barcode.

Referring to FIG. 4C, an updated barcode 408 is illustrated, encodingthe same data as in FIG. 4B but having a reduced length L−2 as a resultof the reduction in the wide-to-narrow ratio from 3.0:1 to 2.0:1. Inparticular, the length L−2 is about 1653 mils in the present example.The determination at block 325 is therefore affirmative, and performanceof the method 300 proceeds to block 335.

At block 335, the printer 108 is configured to render the graphicaldimensioning aid and generate the machine-readable representation of thephysical size determined at block 320. As noted earlier, the performanceof block 335 may be employed, in some embodiments, for either or both ofthe determinations at blocks 320 and 325. That is, the performance ofblock 335 can precede block 320, or can precede block 325 in suchembodiments. In the present example, the performance of block 335includes the rendering of the barcode 408 shown in FIG. 4C, which alsoconstitutes generation of the machine-readable representation of thephysical size. More generally, at block 335 the printer 108 is typicallyconfigured to render a single bitmap for printing to the media,including the graphical dimensioning aid and the machine-readablerepresentation. In the present example, therefore, the rendering atblock 335 can include rendering a bitmap appropriate to the dimensionsof the labels (e.g. 0.6 inches by two inches, in this example), andcontaining the barcode 408. In some embodiments, the physical size ofthe graphic dimensioning aid need not be determined as discussed above,but can instead be obtained from any suitable data source, having beenpreviously determined. In such examples, in other words, the method 300can consist simply of blocks 335 and 340.

Before proceeding with the remainder of the method 300, another exampleof the performance of blocks 320-330 is illustrated in FIG. 4D,employing a PDF417 barcode rather than the Code39 barcode shown in FIGS.4A-4C. FIG. 4D illustrates an initial barcode 412 having a length L−3and a height H1 and encoding the string “APPLES”. A barcode 416 encodesboth the string “APPLES” and the physical size of the length L−3 (e.g.950 mils), for example as the string “APPLES$/950”. As is apparent inFIG. 4D, although the length L−3 of the barcode 416 remains unchanged,the barcode 416 has a greater height H2 than the barcode 412.

The barcodes 412 and 416 employ the same error correction configurationparameter (e.g. an error correction level 3, indicating that 16 errorcorrection codes are employed). When the height H2 of the barcode 416exceeds a boundary parameter, the printer 108 may be configured toselect a different error correction configuration parameter (e.g.reducing the number of error correction codes employed) and to generatean updated barcode 420, having the same length L−3 as the codes 412 and416, and encoding the same string as the code 416, but having a reducedheight H3 as a result of the altered error correction setting.

At block 340, the printer 108 is configured to generate dimensioningmedia bearing the graphic and the machine-readable representation. Thatis, the printer 108 is configured to control the printhead 224 to applythe bitmap rendered at block 335 to a label and eject the printed labelat an outlet of the printer 108, for application to the package 104. Insome embodiments, block 340 may include both encoding the physical sizeinto a RFID device in a label and printing the rendered bitmap to thelabel.

As will be apparent from the example performance of method 300 describedabove, the act of encoding the printed height H of the barcode 400within the barcode 404 does not alter the height H. In other words, inthe example above the printed dimension is independent of themachine-readable representation of the physical size. In some examples,however, the selected graphical dimensioning aid has a printed dimensionthat is not independent of the machine-readable representation. One suchexample is the use of a Code 39 barcode to encode a package identifier(e.g. the string “APPLES” as used above), and also the barcode's ownbarcode symbol length. That is, the physical size of the graphicaldimensioning aid is the barcode symbol length, and the machine-readabledata object is the barcode itself. The barcode symbol length of a Code39 barcode (or the length and/or height of various other barcodesymbologies) depends in part on the number of characters encoded intothe barcode. In this case, encoding the length within the barcode maychange that very length.

In such examples, the printer 108 is configured to implement additionalfunctionality, to perform an iterative process configured to identify aphysical size that remains accurate when encoded in the barcodedescribed by the physical size. Specifically, FIG. 5 illustrates amethod 500 of iteratively determining physical size of a graphicaldimensioning aid, when the physical size is dependent on itsmachine-readable representation. In the example performance of method500 discussed below, the graphical dimensioning aid is a length of abarcode encoding the package identifier “APPLES”, and themachine-readable representation of the physical size is the barcodeitself.

The method 500 begins, at block 505, following the performance of block317 as described above. At block 505, the printer 108 is configured todetermine an initial physical size, in the form of a barcode symbollength L−4, of an initial barcode 600 shown in FIG. 6A encoding thepackage identifier without the physical size, such as only the packageidentifier, the package identifier with a null or zero physical size, orthe package identifier with a default value physical size. The lengthL−4 may be determined as described above, e.g. via rendering oralgorithmically. In the present example, the barcode symbol length ofthe barcode 600 is 1250 mils (assuming a print resolution of 203 dpi,barcode module width and inter-character spacing of 2 dots, and awide-to-narrow ratio of 3.0:1). The initial print dimension is set (e.g.as a value stored in the memory 204) as a current print dimension.

Returning to FIG. 5, at block 510, the printer 108 is configured todetermine an updated print dimension of an updated barcode encoding boththe package identifier and the current print dimension. Turning to FIG.6B, the determination at block 510 in the present example is adetermination of the barcode symbol length of an updated barcode 604encoding the string “APPLES” and the current print dimension (1250mils), separated by the application identifier “$/”. A barcode symbollength L−5 of the barcode 604, determined as discussed above, is 2195mils.

Returning again to FIG. 5, at block 515 the printer 108 is configured todetermine whether boundary parameters are met, and to updateconfiguration parameters at block 520 when the determination isnegative, as described above in connection with blocks 325 and 330. Inthe present example, the length of 2195 mils exceeds the boundary lengthof 1800 mils noted above, and the determination at block 515 istherefore negative. The printer 108 is configured, at block 520, toreduce the wide-to-narrow ratio for the barcode from 3.0:1 to 2.0:1(though other adjustments may be employed instead of, or in addition to,the ratio alteration, as noted earlier).

FIG. 6C illustrates an updated barcode 608 encoding the same data as thebarcode 604, following configuration adjustment at block 520. At block510, the determination of print dimension is repeated, revealing thatthe barcode 608 has a barcode symbol length L−6 of 1781 mils, whichsatisfies the boundary length of 1800 mils. Therefore, the determinationat block 515 is affirmative.

At block 525, the printer 108 is configured to determine whether thecurrent print dimension (set at block 505) is equal to the updated printdimension (determined at block 510). As noted above, the updated printdimension is 1781 mils, whereas the current print dimension remains at1250 mils. The printed dimensions are therefore not equal, and thebarcode 608, while satisfying boundary parameters, encodes an incorrectlength (i.e. a length that does not accurately reflect the barcodesymbol length of the barcode 608).

The printer 108 therefore proceeds to block 530 and sets the updatedprint dimension to the current print dimension. The performance ofblocks 510, 515 and 525 are then repeated. In the present example, asseen in FIG. 6D, the length of a barcode 612 encoding the string“APPLES” and the current print dimension (1781 mils) is the same lengthL−6 as for the barcode 608. At block 525, therefore, the determinationis affirmative, indicating that the current print dimension is anaccurate determination of the physical size. The printer 108 proceedsfrom an affirmative determination at block 525 to block 335, to renderthe barcode 612 and generate dimensioning media. In a preferredembodiment, an integer number of bitmap dot columns for the initialprint dimension and a corresponding value for the updated printdimension would be compared in block 525 to determine whether they areequal, where both the first and the outermost dots of the bitmapcorrespond to features of the graphical dimensioning aid to be marked onthe dimensioning media so they may be easily measured by a dimensioningsystem as explained below. In various embodiments, the comparison may bemade based on a number of bitmap dot rows, on a size determination basedon a print resolution, on a size determination based on an expected dotgain for a particular printing technology, on a combination of suchcalculations or other methods. In some embodiments, the overall size ofthe graphic dimensioning aid (including unprinted areas or quiet zones)may be evaluated to reach the determination. In embodiments, thedetermination of equality may be subject to a tolerance of thecalculation, measurement, printer, media, process, dimensioning systemand the like so that two dimensions that are not exactly the same maydiffer by a sufficiently small amount may still be considered equal forthe purposes of this invention.

In some embodiments, the printer 108 is configured to increment acounter following each negative determination at block 325 (a similarcounter can be implemented for either or both of blocks 515 and 525).When the counter reaches a predefined threshold, the printer 108 isconfigured to abort the performance of the method 300 or 500 andgenerate an error message. In an embodiment, when the configurationparameters are updated by a sufficiently small amount the printer may beconfigured to abort the performance of the method and generate the errormessage. In an embodiment, the predefined threshold may be included inreceived media data 310, format data 313, or print data 315, or may bedefined as a result of determining boundary parameters 317.

Various other examples of graphical dimensioning aids andmachine-readable representations of physical sizes are contemplated, inaddition to those described above. For example, turning to FIG. 7A, thegraphical dimensioning aid is a first barcode 700 (having a barcodesymbol length L) encoding the package identifier (e.g. “APPLES”), andthe machine-readable data object is a second barcode 704 encoding thebarcode symbol length of the first barcode as a physical size of thegraphical dimensioning aid. In the present example, the second barcode704 is also a Code 39 barcode, but the first and second barcodes 700 and704 need not be the same symbology. For instance, the first barcodecould be a linear barcode and the second barcode could be a 2D barcode.The barcodes 700 and 704 can be printed, at block 340, on a single labelor package, or on separate labels, or one barcode could be printed on alabel and the other barcode marked directly onto the item. It will alsobe noted in FIG. 7A that another example of an application identifier(the string “L/”) is employed to identify the second barcode 704 asencoding the physical dimension.

FIG. 7B illustrates a further example, in which the graphicaldimensioning aid includes one or more graphics 708 such as a logo,compliance mark, licensed trademark, character glyph (such as (or $), orother graphic. For example, the graphical dimensioning aid can include alower edge 710 (having a length L) and a left edge 709 (having an heightH) of the graphic 708. The machine-readable representation of thephysical size L, H, or combination thereof can be encoded in amachine-readable data object such as barcode 712 or an RFID device.

FIG. 7C illustrates yet another example, in which the graphicaldimensioning aid is the barcode 700 (having a height H). Themachine-readable data object is a string of text 716 (e.g. printed onthe same label or on a different label than the barcode 700) specifyingthe height H (394 mils, in the present example) as the physical size ofthe graphical dimensioning aid.

Following the generation of dimensioning media via the performance ofmethods 300 and 500, the dimensioning media may be affixed to a package104. The dimensioning system 112 is subsequently configured to employthe dimensioning media to determine one or more physical dimensions ofthe package 104, as discussed in connection with FIG. 8, which depicts amethod 800 of dimensioning an item.

At block 805, the dimensioning system 112 is configured to capture animage of the item (e.g. a package 104), for example via control of theimage capture system 222. In some embodiments the image capture system222 is implemented as a system including more than one image sensor. Insome embodiments a plurality of images (e.g. one per image sensor, ormultiple images at one sensor captured at distinct times, or imagescaptured by a sensor at different frequencies of light) can be capturedat block 805. In some embodiments, a plurality of images may be combinedinto a single captured image. In some embodiments either or both theitem 104 and the image capture system 222 may be moving so the combiningmay be done in such a manner to ensure that the measured length of theGDA and the measured length of the edge from the combined image may becorrelated. The system 112 is further configured to detect, as depictedin the captured image, one or more edges of the package 104 and agraphical dimensioning aid.

In an embodiment, the captured image may be a digital image comprising aplurality of pixels arrangeable in rows and columns. In such anembodiment the package 104 is a cardboard box in the shape of arectangular prism with a barcode shipping label on a front face of thebox. The captured image may show three faces of the box, each with acertain general brightness. The pixels representing the three faces maydiffer somewhat in brightness because the box faces are orthogonal toeach other, and thus are oriented at different angles relative toilluminating light sources and to the image capture system 222. Pixelsrepresenting various portions of a single face also may vary inbrightness due to small differences in angles relative to illuminatingsources and the image capture subsystem, color variations, dirt on thepackage 104 or the image capture system 222, and/or printing on thepackaging. Applying an edge detection algorithm to the captured imageallows detecting appropriate gradients between areas of the image andassociating those areas with an edge. Two or more such edges define thefront face of the rectangular prism shaped box. A first front edge,combined with three additional edges, define a second face of the box. Athird face of the box may be defined by a second front edge of the boxperpendicular to the first front edge, a second edge of the second sideperpendicular to both the first and second front edges, and twoadditional edges. Although in this example the edges of the rectangularprism box are all in a perpendicular arrangement, the two-dimensionalcaptured image is unlikely to have any of the edges appearperpendicular. Edge detection can be performed using any suitable edgedetection operation (e.g. by identifying sequences of gradientsindicative of changes in color or lighting associated with the edge ofan item).

In the current embodiment, an appropriate barcode locating algorithmcould also identify the presence of a barcode on a barcode shippinglabel by detecting differences in brightness resulting from the darklyprinted barcode on a white label. The barcode may be associated with aparticular face of the box by determining the position or appearance ofthe detected barcode to the detected edges in the captured image. Thebarcode may be associated with a particular face of the box if three ormore detected edges surround the barcode. In certain embodiments, thegraphical dimensioning aid will approximate a rectangle with a heightand a width. For instance, a Code 128 barcode may have a height definedas the height of each bar, and a width defined as the total width fromthe left edge of the leftmost black bar to the right edge of therightmost black bar. A line constructed through the top of every barwould thus be parallel to a line constructed through the bottom of everybar, but perpendicular to a line constructed through the left edge ofthe leftmost black bar and perpendicular to a line constructed throughthe right edge of the rightmost black bar. The four angles created bythose four lines would each be 90 degrees. However, the apparent anglesin the captured image might differ. If the image was captured from a fardistance along a line normal to the center of the GDA, the GDA mayappear rectangular. But if the image was captured from a non-orthogonalposition along a line parallel to the sides of the barcode butperpendicular to the top of the barcode, the top of the barcode mayappear larger than the bottom of the barcode, and angles between the topand sides of the barcode would appear smaller than 90 degrees, whileangles between the bottom and sides of the barcode would appear largerthan 90 degrees. For other orientations, angles nearer the position atwhich the image is captured will generally appear larger than anglesfurther from the position at which the image is captured. Thischaracteristic may also be used in dimensioning to associate the GDAwith a particular face of the package or to determine the orientation ofthe GDA relative to the dimensioning system. An appropriate barcodedecoding algorithm may decode data from the barcode to determine iteminformation and/or physical size information for the graphical dimensionaid barcode. The system 112 can store criteria for identifying agraphical dimensioning aid such as the barcode in the currentembodiment. For example, the system 112 can be configured to inspect theimage captured at block 805 for one or more types of graphic defined inthe memory 254. The types of graphic for which the system 112 isconfigured to search can include any of those noted above, such asbarcode features (e.g. any suitable pattern of a barcode), graphicfeatures (e.g. the logo of FIG. 7B), text features, the antenna of anRFID device, the edge of a label on the carton of the package and thelike.

At block 809, the system 112 is configured to determine a measurement ofan edge detected in block 805, and to determine a measurement of thegraphical dimensioning aid detected in block 805. Measuring edges,graphical dimensioning aids, or other features within the captured imagecan be performed using any suitable measurement operation, such ascalculating the square root of (row difference squared plus columndifference squared). At block 810, the system 112 is configured tocapture and decode, from a machine-readable data object affixed to theitem, a physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid imaged anddetected at block 805 and measured at block 809. The above-mentionedcriteria can also specify the machine-readable data object(s)corresponding to each graphical dimensioning aid. For example, thesystem 112 can be configured, having detected the graphical dimensioningaid logo of FIG. 7B, to locate and decode the machine-readable dataobject barcode 712 in the image(s) captured at block 805. In anotherexample, having detected the graphical dimensioning aid barcode 612 inthe image captured at block 805, the system 112 can be configured todecode machine-readable data object barcode 612 to determine thephysical size of graphical dimensioning aid barcode 612. In anotherexample, having detected the graphical dimensioning aid barcode 700 inthe image(s) captured at block 805, the device 112 can be configured tolocate the machine-readable data object text string 716 in the image andapply optical character recognition (OCR) to decode the physical size ofgraphical dimensioning aid barcode 700. In a further example, at block810 the system 112 can be configured to identify a compliance formatMRDO of a compliance label and select a physical size of a GDA definedby the compliance format corresponding to the graphical dimensioning aidmeasured in block 809. In a further example, at block 810 the system 112can be configured to read a MRDO RFID device carried by the item toretrieve a physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid measured inblock 809. As explained above, decoding may be performed by a datacapture system 228 of the dimensioning system 112, or may be performedby using an application 268 based on an image captured by image capturesystem 222, or any suitable combination.

At block 815, the dimensioning system 112 is configured to identify aset of the edges detected at block 805 that are substantially coplanarwith the graphical dimensioning aid. For example, the dimensioningsystem 112 can be configured to identify a set of the edges that enclosethe graphical dimensioning aid. Referring to FIG. 9, an image 900 of apackage 104 is illustrated, as captured by the dimensioning system 112at block 805. The image 900 also depicts a graphical dimensioning aid902 which is affixed to the package via a label. In an embodiment,graphical dimensioning aid 902 could be a white label on a dark carton.In an embodiment, graphical dimensioning aid 902 could be a coloredborder on a label affixed to the carton. In an embodiment, graphicaldimensioning aid 902 could be barcode 612 printed on a label affixed tothe carton. The physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid 902 isdecoded from the machine-readable data object barcode 612, and in thepresent example corresponds to 1781 mils (see FIG. 6C). In anembodiment, the machine-readable data object could be a RFID devicecarried by the label or the package. For accurate dimensioning it isdesirable that the graphical dimensioning aid detected in block 805 beapproximately coplanar with the edges detected in block 805. In someembodiments, the orientation of the MRDO does not matter as long as itmay be captured and decoded by the system 112. For some applications,compliance labels have been defined for use between trading partners; inan embodiment the compliance label definition may specify agreedsymbologies, predetermined symbols, sizes, or placement of the graphicaldimensioning aid. In such an embodiment, a dimensioning system maycapture an image of an item and an associated graphical dimensioningaid; analyze the captured image to detect a format, logo, or barcodebased on a compliance specification; and determine physical dimensionsof the graphical dimensioning aid from memory 254 based on thedetection.

The system 112 detects a plurality of edges at block 805 correspondingto the visible edges of the package 104, including edges 904-1, 904-2,904-3 and 904-4. As shown in FIG. 9, the edges 904-1 to 904-4 enclosethe graphical dimensioning aid 902, indicating (based on the assumptionthat the package is a rectangular prism and the GDA is a label) that thegraphical dimensioning aid 902 is coplanar with the edges 904. At block820, the system 112 is configured to determine a physical dimension ofat least one of the edges identified at block 815, based on the physicalsize of the graphical dimensioning aid 902 (decoded from the barcode612) as well as on the image measurements from block 809, of both theGDA 902 and the edge 904.

In the present example, as noted above, the physical size of the GDA 902is 1781 mils. The physical length of the edge 904-1 can therefore bedetermined by dividing the measured length of the edge 904-1 by themeasured length of the GDA 902 then multiplying by the physical size ofthe GDA 902. For example, if the measured length of the GDA 902 is 800pixels, and the measured length of the edge 904-1 is 2240 pixels, thephysical length of the edge 904-1 is determined by multiplying 1781 milsby 2.8 (i.e. 4.99 inches).

The dimensioning system 112 is further configured, at block 825, topresent the physical lengths of the coplanar edges determined at block820. For example, the dimensions can be presented via the output device262. In some examples, at block 825 the dimensioning system 112 isfurther configured to employ the physical dimension(s) determined atblock 820, as well as the physical size of the GDA 902, in furtherdimensioning operations based on any combination of the image 900,additional images, lidar data depicting the package 104, ultrasound datarepresenting the package 104, and the like. For example, the dimensionsdetermined at block 820 can be employed as calibration values in suchdimensioning operations, used to determine the distance from a sensor tothe GDA, or reported to data analytics software. Certain embodiments ofthis invention provide methods for a dimensioning system to determinethe dimension of a graphical dimensioning aid where the distance betweenthe dimensioning system 112 and the graphical dimensioning aid 110 hasnot been predetermined by the dimensioning system. In some embodiments,the dimensions determined at block 820 may be used with other data todimension the package; such other data may be determined by thedimensioning system 112, from other sources, or from a combination ofsources. The dimensions determined at block 820 for a first package in acontainer or on a pallet may be used by a dimensioning system todimension a second package in the container even if the second packagedoes not carry the GDA by dividing a measured length of an edge of thesecond package by a measured length of the edge 904 then multiplying bythe physical dimension determined at block 820.

Variations to the above systems and methods are contemplated. Forexample, dimensioning media can be applied to a collection of items,such as a pallet bearing multiple packages 104, instead of or inaddition to being applied to individual items. For example, individualpackages 104 can be palletized, and an additional dimensioning label canbe applied to a pallet overwrap, such that an image of the palletdepicts a plurality of graphical dimensioning aids and associatedphysical sizes. The dimensions of the pallet may then be determinedbased on any one of the graphical dimensioning aids. For packages ofcertain shapes or for flexible packaging, the machine-readable dataobject (such as a compliance label format, RFID device, or a barcode)may include both the size of the graphical dimensioning aid and anindication of the packaging shape or type. For example, dimensioningmedia indicating that the graphical dimensioning aid is 1781 mils inlength and is also carried lengthwise by a cylindrical package could beused to determine the overall length of the package by dividing themeasured length of the cylinder by the measured length of the GDA thenmultiplying by 1781 mils: the physical size of the GDA. The indicationof the packaging may indicate “non-rectangular prism” to inform thedimensioning system not to use standard rectangular prism algorithms todimension the item, it may more specifically indicate “tube” or “5 sidedbox” to inform the dimensioning system to use a different algorithm todimension the item, or it may indicate a packaging SKU of predefineddimensions or a unique serialized identifier for the particular itemthat may be used by the dimensioning system to determine the physicalsize of the packaging by referencing data stored in memory. Theindication of the packaging may also indicate other packaginginformation useful to a dimensioning system, such as the shape of thepackage, the color of particular marks, the physical size of packageattributes other than printed mark, package dimensions, package type,weight, or parcel number.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have beendescribed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates thatvarious modifications and changes can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly,the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativerather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is definedsolely by the appended claims including any amendments made during thependency of this application and all equivalents of those claims asissued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second,top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish oneentity or action from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”,“having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any othervariation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, suchthat a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has,includes, contains a list of elements does not include only thoseelements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by“comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . .a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence ofadditional identical elements in the process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms“a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly statedotherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”,“approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined asbeing close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and inone non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, inanother embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and inanother embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein isdefined as connected, although not necessarily directly and notnecessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” ina certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also beconfigured in ways that are not listed.

It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one ormore generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such asmicroprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors andfield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored programinstructions (including either software or firmware) that control theone or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certainnon-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of themethod and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or allfunctions could be implemented by a state machine that has no storedprogram instructions, or in one or more application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certainof the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, acombination of the two approaches could be used.

Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readablestorage medium having computer readable code stored thereon forprogramming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform amethod as described and claimed herein. Examples of suchcomputer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, ahard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storagedevice, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read OnlyMemory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flashmemory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill,notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choicesmotivated by, for example, available time, current technology, andeconomic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principlesdisclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such softwareinstructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of generating dimensioning assistinformation for an item, the method comprising: obtaining dataassociated with a physical size of a graphical dimensioning aidassociated with the item; generating dimensioning assist information byencoding the data into a machine-readable data object carried by theitem.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical size of thegraphical dimensioning aid is smaller than a size of the item.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the graphical dimensioning aid is printed onthe item.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable dataobject comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, where the graphical dimensioning aid comprises anantenna of the RFID device.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:obtaining, at a printer, a printable representation of the graphicaldimensioning aid; receiving, at the printer, a media comprising an RFIDdevice; generating, at the printer, dimensioning media by printing theprintable representation to the media and encoding the physical size tothe RFID device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readabledata object is the graphical dimensioning aid, the method furthercomprising marking the item with the machine-readable data object. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein the machine-readable data objectcomprises at least one of: a barcode, text, and a graphic.
 9. The methodof claim 7, wherein marking the item is selected from the groupconsisting of: printing a bitmap via impact marking, printing a bitmapvia thermal marking, printing a bitmap via continuous inkjet marking,printing a bitmap via drop-on demand inkjet marking, printing a bitmapvia direct laser marking, printing a bitmap via solid ink marking,printing a bitmap via laser printing, printing a bitmap via liquid tonermarking, and printing a bitmap via laser marking.
 10. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the marking comprises printing a bitmap on dimensioningmedia and affixing the dimensioning media to the item.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein obtaining the data associated with the physical size ofthe graphical dimensioning aid comprises: determining a print resolutionof a digital printer; obtaining data defining the graphical dimensioningaid; generating a printable representation of the graphical dimensioningaid based on the data defining the graphical dimensioning aid;determining, based on at least one of the print resolution, the datadefining the graphical dimensioning aid and the printablerepresentation, the dimensioning assist information comprising thephysical size of the graphical dimensioning aid.
 12. The method of claim11 further comprising: generating, at the printer, dimensioning mediacarrying the graphical dimensioning aid and the machine-readable dataobject encoding the physical size.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinthe machine-readable data object includes at least one of: a barcode, aradio frequency identification (RFID) device, text, and a graphic. 14.The method of claim 12, wherein the graphical dimensioning aid comprisesthe machine-readable data object.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinthe printable representation is one of a first printable representationand a second printable representation, the method further comprising:determining an initial print dimension corresponding to the firstprintable representation; encoding the initial print dimension into themachine-readable data object; determining an updated print dimensioncorresponding to the second printable representation; when the initialprint dimension and the updated print dimension are equal, setting thephysical size of the graphical dimensioning aid as the updated printdimension.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the machine-readable dataobject comprises one of a barcode, text, and a graphic.
 17. The methodof claim 15, wherein the first printable representation comprises arendered bitmap and a first color value, and the second printablerepresentation comprises a second color value different than the firstcolor value.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: when theinitial print dimension and the updated print dimension are not equal,determining a further physical size corresponding to a furthermachine-readable data object encoding the updated print dimension; andwhen the further physical size and the updated physical size are equal,setting the physical size of the graphical dimensioning aid as theupdated physical size.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:setting a variable to a first variable value; generating the firstprintable representation based on the first variable value; generatingthe second printable representation based on the first variable value;incrementing the variable to a second variable value; and generating afurther printable representation of a further machine-readable dataobject based on the second variable value.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the first variable value is associated with an attribute of abarcode symbology and the second variable value is associated with theattribute.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the attribute is one ormore of print ratio, narrow bar width, character mode, matrix width,matrix height, cell width, cell height, cell character capacity,security level, error correction, and number of colors.
 22. The methodof claim 15 further comprising: determining a first boundary parameterof the graphical dimensioning aid; setting a variable to a firstvariable value; generating the first printable representation based onthe first variable value; generating the second printable representationbased on the first variable value; incrementing the variable to a secondvariable value, comparing the second variable value to the firstboundary parameter based on the comparison, setting an updated boundaryparameter of the graphical dimensioning aid and repeating generating theprintable representations, according to the updated boundary parameter.